Funding / Australia
Not closed · checked 2 Oct – 10 Oct 2026
Open funding for startups in Australia
18 grants and accelerators: 6 with a closing date, 2 rolling, 10 with no deadline found. A program whose closing date has passed is left out. Amounts and terms are the program's own words; a fact I did not find says not found.
Programs open to founders anywhere: 22 — see them.
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Grants and accelerators (18)
With a closing date (6)
Grant non-dilutive
ARENA Launchpad Program - Startup Funding Round
- Amount
- cash · Grants of AUD 500,000, plus up to a further AUD 500,000 for high-capex projects (up to AUD 1,000,000 per grant); AUD 15 million round
- Deadline
- 28 Oct 2026
- For whom
- Early-stage startups aligned to ARENA's strategic priorities (renewable energy and low-emissions technology).
- Where
- Australia (national, clean energy)
Accelerator for equity
Startmate Accelerator (Summer '27)
- Amount
- investment · $120,000 AUD at a $1.5m post-money valuation – 8% of the company.
- Deadline
- 1 Nov 2026
- For whom
- One founder needs to be full-time, and solo founders are just as welcome as teams.
- Where
- Nationwide (remote, with in-person weeks in Melbourne)
Grant non-dilutive
Transforming Queensland Manufacturing Grants Program
- Amount
- cash · Matched funding AUD 100,000 to 1.5 million
- Deadline
- 25 Nov 2026
- For whom
- Queensland manufacturing SMEs (5-200 FTE, operating in QLD 3+ years) buying advanced manufacturing equipment.
- Where
- Queensland
Grant non-dilutive
Carbon Innovation Grants Program WA
- Amount
- cash · AUD 50,000 to 1.5 million (feasibility AUD 50k-500k; pilots AUD 100k-1.5m)
- Deadline
- 11 Dec 2026
- For whom
- Heavy-industry participants in WA (or those with a heavy-industry partner) developing carbon abatement technologies.
- Where
- Western Australia
Grant non-dilutive
First Nations Innovation Acceleration Program QLD
- Amount
- cash · Investment grants up to AUD 100,000 plus funded strategic advisory services
- Deadline
- 4 Feb 2027
- For whom
- First Nations-owned innovative businesses established and operating in Queensland that want to scale.
- Where
- Queensland
Grant non-dilutive
Ignite Program NT
- Amount
- cash · Stream A AUD 2,000 voucher plus mentoring; Stream B up to AUD 15,000 to develop a minimum viable product
- Deadline
- 30 Jun 2027
- For whom
- NT founders and early-stage businesses with an ABN that are Territory enterprises.
- Where
- Northern Territory
Rolling (2)
Grant non-dilutive
CSIRO Kick-Start
- Amount
- cash · Matched funding between $20,000 and $60,000.
- Deadline
- Apply at any time.
- For whom
- Start-ups and small to medium enterprises.
- Where
- Nationwide
Grant non-dilutive
METS Innovation Program WA
- Amount
- cash · Matched funding up to AUD 250,000 per approved project
- Deadline
- Apply at any time (rolling)
- For whom
- WA-based mining equipment, technology and services companies with turnover under AUD 50m.
- Where
- Western Australia
No deadline found — check the page (10)
Accelerator for equity
Antler Australia Residency
- Amount
- investment · We invest Pre-Seed and provide follow-on funding up to Series C.
- Deadline
- no deadline on the page
- For whom
- Early-stage founders joining an 8-week residency in Australia run twice a year, in February and July, aimed at securing pre-seed funding.
- Where
- Sydney, Australia
Grant non-dilutive
Critical Technologies Challenge Program Round 1
- Amount
- Grants from $100,000 to $500,000 for a Stage 1 Feasibility project.
- Deadline
- This grant is currently closed to applications
- For whom
- Consortia with at least one Australian industry partner and one research organisation
- Where
- Australia
Grant non-dilutive
Energy Innovation Fund ACT
- Amount
- cash · Technology Demonstration Grant AUD 50,000 to 1 million; Policy Challenge Grant AUD 20,000 to 500,000; Innovation Ecosystem Grant AUD 30,000 to 300,000
- Deadline
- Two assessment rounds each year; dates announced by ACT Government
- For whom
- ACT-based businesses and organisations developing energy transition technologies and ventures.
- Where
- Australian Capital Territory
Grant non-dilutive
Export Market Development Grants (EMDG)
- Amount
- Tier 3 – $20,000 up to $80,000 per financial year
- Deadline
- This grant is currently closed to applications
- For whom
- Australian SME exporters and representative bodies
- Where
- Australia
Grant non-dilutive
Industry Growth Program (Advisory Service and grants)
- Amount
- cash · grants of $50,000 to $250,000 to support early-stage commercialisation projects
- Deadline
- no deadline on the page
- For whom
- Innovative Australian incorporated SMEs with turnover under A$20 million commercialising products in National Reconstruction Fund priority areas.
- Where
- Australia (online portal)
Accelerator non-dilutive
LaunchVic CivVic Labs
- Amount
- $8,125 · participant teams will receive $12,500 equity-free funding on completion of the program.
- Deadline
- Expressions of Interest for this challenge have now closed.
- For whom
- Aspiring and early-stage founders working on government-identified challenges
- Where
- Victoria, Australia
Accelerator credits
NSW Defence and Aerospace Hub Stride (Cicada Innovations)
- Amount
- credits · Fully funded six-month coaching program with dedicated workspace (no cash)
- Deadline
- no deadline on the page
- For whom
- Ventures developing non-lethal space, aerospace and defence dual-use technologies, in person or virtual.
- Where
- Sydney, NSW, Australia
Grant non-dilutive
Prototyping Vouchers ACT
- Amount
- cash · Vouchers worth up to AUD 10,000 for fabrication facilities and technical expertise
- Deadline
- Open until all funding is allocated; assessed monthly
- For whom
- Canberra-based entrepreneurs, innovators and businesses with an ABN and a product at TRL 1-4.
- Where
- Australian Capital Territory
Grant non-dilutive
Seed-Start (SA Research and Innovation Fund)
- Amount
- cash · Minimum grant: $50,000 Maximum grant: $100,000
- Deadline
- no deadline on the page
- For whom
- innovative, early-stage South Australian startups
- Where
- South Australia
Grant non-dilutive
Territory Innovation Challenges Program NT
- Amount
- cash · AUD 100,000 seed funding on finalisation of a procurement contract
- Deadline
- Deadlines vary by challenge
- For whom
- NT enterprises forming a cluster (2+ NT businesses plus a research organisation) to solve government-set challenges.
- Where
- Northern Territory
This list is information, not advice or an offer. Programs change: open the program's page before you apply. A program is not listed once its deadline has passed or when its link was found dead on two checks in a row.
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